Built-in jack for motor vehicles



OL. L` CAMPBELL BUILT-IN JACK FOR MOTOR VEHIGLES March 4, 1941.

Filed May 2. 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 'l ATTORNEYS w/TNEss March 4, 1941. LL.CAMPBELL BUILT-1n JACK Fon mon VEHICLES 5 sheets-shea s l Filed May 2,1939 g i +55 y i y i v v Y March 4, 1941. A1 CAMPBELL 2,233,732

` BUILT-IN JACK FOR MOTOR yVEHICLES v Filed lay 2, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet-4 @d H3 mmwy@ Mmmm@ ATTOR N EYS L. L. CAMPBELL BUILT-IN JAG-K Foa MOTORVERI-CLES March 4, 1941.

Filed nay z, l1939 5 sheets-sheet s ATTORNEYS WITNESS Patented Mar. 4,1941 PATENT OFFICE BUILT-1N JACK Foa Moron VEHICLES Lester L. Campbell,Boone, W. va., assignor of onchalf to Norman L. Cardey, Winona, W. Va.

Application May 2, 1939, Serial No. 271,375

2 Claims.

This invention relates to built-m Jacks for.

A further object is to provide jack mechanism of this type in which thetelescopic sections of the jack are operated through a iiuid pressuremedium controlled by a pair of pumps selectively operated to force themedium in one direction to r extend the-jack and force the medium in theopposite direction to retract the jack.

A still further object is to provide jack mechanism of this character inwhich novel iiuid pressure controlled means are employed to positivelylock the jack in horizontal released position so that the same cannotbecome dislodged by vibration or severe conditions of service.

A further object is to provide jack mechanism of this character havingsimplified mechanism for positively locking the jack in verticalextended position so that tipping over of the jack will' be positivelyprevented.

A further object is to' provide jack mechanism having a swivelly mountedfoot member adapted to conform to inequalities in the ground and permitth'e jack to, always assume vertical position when in use. l

A further object is to provide jack mechanism of this character whichwill be formed of a few strong simple and durable parts, which will be35 Ainexpensive to manufacture, and which will .not

easily get outl of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists ofcertain novel details oil construction and combinations ofparts'hereinalter fully described and claimed, it being understood thatvarious modifications may be resorted to within the scope of theappended claims chassis showing vjack mechanism constructed inaccordance with the invention, applied thereto. Figure 2 is a sideelevation of one of the jacks in released horizontal position.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken ontheline3--3ofFigure2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view oi one of the jacks in extendedposition to elevate the chassis of the vehicle.

Figure 5 is a detailcross sectional view taken on the `line 5-5 ofFigure 4 showing the ports in oneof the telescopic sections of a jack. 5

Figure 6 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line 6 6 ofFigure 4, drawn to enlarged scale, and showing the iluid controlled lockmeans for holding the jack in operative and in released position. 10

Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the jackextended andl showingthe pressure release passages to take care ofabnormal pressures when the jack is extended.

Figure 8 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line 8--8 ofFigure 4 and showing one oi.'- the U-shaped ducts for receiving theexcess pressure pipe of the adjacent section of the jack.

Figure 9 is a detail longitudinal sectional view 'taken on the line 9-9of Figure 6 and showing 20 the iluid operated means lfor releasing thelock mechanism which holds the jack in horizontal released position.

Figure l0 is an end elevation of the check valve of'the'piston shown inFigure 9.

Figure ll is a detail longitudinal sectional view taken on the lineil-li of Figure 3 and showing the mechanism for rotating the jack pn itstrunnions. I

' Figure l2 is a detail longitudinal sectional 30 view taken on the linel2-i2 of Figure 4 showing the jack swung through an angle of 90 degreeson its trunnions.

Figure 13 is a longitudinal sectional view, drawn to Venlarged scale,taken on the line |3-I3 35 of Figure l and showing the pump mechanismand controls therefor.

Figure 14 is a cross sectional view taken on the line lll-I4 of Figure13 and showing the mechanism for controlling the direction of ilow ofthe fluid medium.

Figure 15 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line |5-l5 ofFigure 13 showing the pumps geared to the timing gear of the vehicle tobe driven thereby.

Figure 16 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line lli- I6 ofFigure 13 showing the selector mechanism for controlling the variousjacks.

Figure 17 is a detail longitudinal sectional view 50 taken on the lineIl-I'l of lFigure 1 showing the control button for selecting apredetermined pump and jack to be operated.

Figure 18 is a cross sectional view taken on the line I8-I8 of Figure 17showing the legends 55 for indicating the setting of the control button.

Figure 19 is a cross sectional view taken on the Va fluid pressuremedium, such as oil, is secured to the chassis through the mediurnofbrackets I4. A pair of pipes i5 and I6 are connected at their rear endsto the tank and .at their front ends are connected to respectivecylinders l1 and I8 formed in a casing I9 which is bolted to the motorgear case 29, as shown at 2l in Figures 1,

l 13 and 15.

A shaft 22 is rotatably and siidably mounted in a bearing 23 carried byone of the heads 2d of the casing. A gear 25 is sleeved on the shaft andis rotatably mounted on a hub 26 carried by thecasing head 24, throughthe medium of ascrew 21 which is engaged through the gear and projectsinto a circular groove 28 formed in the hub concentric with the shaft.The gear meshes with the timing gear. 29, as shown in Figure l5. Y

A pair of pistons 30 and 3I are mounted in the cylinders i1 and I8 andthe piston rods thereof are equipped with respective eccentric straps 32and 33 which surround eccentric gears 34 and 35. These eccentric gearsare loose on respective hubs :16 and 31 carried 4by partitions 38 and 39disposed.

in spaced relationship Within the casing I9. Pins $9 and 4! t in grooves42 and 43 in the hubs to secure the eccentric gears.

The shaft 22 is provided between the eccentric gears with a gear 44which is adapted to be selectively brought into mesh with the gear teeth45 and 46 or' the eccentric gears 34 and 35 when the shaft is movedendwse.

The purpose of this is to drive the pistons 30 and 3i selectively, oneof the pistons sucking the oil from the supply tank I3 and forcingit-into the hereinafter described jacks to extend theyv jacks, and theother being adapted to suck the oil out of the jacks and return it tothe supply tank for retracting the. jacks as will be-'hereinafterdescribed in detail.

When the shaft 22 is moved endwise toA meshl the pinion 44 with aselected one of the eccentric gears/the drive gear' 25 must rotate in acorresponding direction. For this purposethe shaft is equipped with apair of gears 41 and 4B which l`are selectivelyv engageable with gearteeth 49 formed onthe inner periphery of the gear 25. When the shaft ismoved endwise to engage the pinion 44 with the eccentric 43 of thesuction piston the gea-r 48 on the shaft engages with the .gear teeth 49of the driving gear 25. Conversely when the shaft is moved endwise inthe opposite direction to engage the gear 44 with the gear teeth 46 tooperate the pressure piston, the gear 41 is engaged with the gear teeth49 of the driving gear 25. For .holding the shaft 22 in neutralposition,

a pair ofhelical springs v5l! and 5I are sleeved I upon the shaft in thebearing 23 on opposite sides of a collar 52. These springs exertpressure on the collar to hold the gears 41 and 44 in neutral position.

There are four uid pressure jacks, attached to the axles or 'rails III,near respective wheels I2. As best shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, eachjack comprises preferably f our telescopically assembled sections 53, 54and 55 and 56, the upper section having a pair of oppositely disposedpivotal supports orgudgeons 51 and 58. An attaching plate 59 receivesthe vgud'geon 58 and is provided with four bolts 69, best shown inFigure 2, which are engaged through the chassis siderail I0 and througha. channel beam 6I which is telescopically engaged in the'rail, as `bestshown in Figure 4.

The gudgeon 51 is received in an arm 62 which extends parallel totheattaching platel 59 and is connected to an arcuate web 63, best shown inand may also return from the jack to this chamber for respectivelyextending and retracting the jack.

By referring to Figures 3,4 and 6 it will be seen that the pipe 641sconnected to a duct 661m the.

head of the upper section 56 ofthe jack. This duct communicates withy a.valve chamber 61 in which is seated a spring pressed valve 68. AThe stemof this valve bears against a latch 69 `which is mounted in a housing 10secured to the plate 59 of the chassis and is spring pressed towardr thevalve stem to passV through an opening Il in the attaching plate 59 andlock the jack in horizontal released position. When pressure is let intothe duct the initial work performed is that the valve 68 is urgedoutwardly to push the latch 69 back into its seat and' free the jack torotate on its Y gudgecns .torn'ierative position.

The next v'work performedby the pressure medium after unlatching thejackl is to positively rotate/the -jack toits operative position and forthis'purpose a duct 12 is formed in the wall of the upper member 56'ofthe jack and communicates with a plunger. chamber 13, best shown inFigures 11 and 12 inl which a plunger 'I4 is mounted, having rack teeth.15 which engage a gear l'xed' stationaryto the gudgeon 58. Thepressure-medium movesthe plunger'in a path around the gear to positivelyrock the jack in the direction of the arrowheads shown in Figure 1.1, tomove it tothe vertical operative position shown in Figure 12.` Y

Thenext work performed by the fluid medium after rocking the jackltovertical operative position is that of extending the jack. For thisvpurpose a port 11, best shown in Figures 3 and 4 is formed Vinthe wallof the upper section 56,01'

,the"jack and communicates Vwith the plunger chamber 13 so that whenthis port is exposed by movement of the plunger to its limit ofmovementthe duid pressure medium will pass into the upper section 56and. against the heads 18, 19

and `89 oi' ythe sections to extend the sections. Ports BI and 32 areformed in the headsof the intermediatese'ctions 18 and 19 to permit thepressure equalizing throughoutall of the sec- 53, which section ismerely a hollow piston. 'Ihe ports 8| and 82 also permit the pressuremedium to be pumped from the sections to telescope the sections. l

The jack is locked in extended vertical position against collapse andfor this purpose a latch pin 83, best shown in Figure 4, is slidablymounted in a pressure tight bearing 84 disposed in the head of theuppermost jack section 56. The pin is y constantly forced outwardlythrough the medium of a helical spring 85 carried by a pin 86 which ismounted in a guide opening 81 formed in the head parallel with the latchpin. A link 88 is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to a lug 89which projects from the head of the section 56, and is pivotallyconnected at its ends to the latch pin 83 and pin 86, -When the jack isrotated from the horizontal to the vertical the spring urges the latchpin 83 into an opening 98 in the web 63 of the attaching plate 59 as thejack reaches the vertical to lock the jack against dislodgement. Duringtelescoping movement of the sections of the jack, and just prior to thejack being rocked to the horizontal, the head 88 of the lowermostsection 53 of the jack impinges against the pin 86 and' rocks the link88 to Withdraw the latch pin 83 from the opening 98 so that the suctionpump can create a vacuum back of the plunger 14, shown in Figure 12, androck`the jack to the horizontal released position. To permit a vacuumbeing exerted against the plunger, a small check valve 9|, best shown inFigures 3, 9 and l0, is carried by the check valve 68 and opensoppositely thereto, that is, it opens by suction to expose ports 92 inthe check valve 68 through which thejack may be evacuated of pressure.The sides of the check valve 9| are cut away as shown at 93 in Figure 10to permit the iluid pressure passing the check valve 9|.

When the jack arrives in horizontal position the latch pin 69 is urgedby its spring through the opening 1I in the attaching plate 59 to lockthe jack in released position.

For venting excess pressure from the jack to prevent breakage of theparts, the sections 54,'55 and 58 of the jack are provided withrespective' ducts 95, 96 and 91, best shown in Figures 2, 4 and '1.'I'he ducts are formed integral to the walls of the sections and areU-shaped in cross section, as shown best in Figure to be compactlynested to economize space. The section 53 is provided with a guide 94 ofU-shape in cross section for the reception of the duct 95 when the jackis retracted, as shown in Figures 5 and 8.

The duct v81 of the uppermost section 56, of each jack, is connected toa respective pressure release pipe 98, as-best shown in Figure 1, andthe release pipes of the two jacks on the same side of the chassiscommunicate with a transversely' disposed pipe 99 which is connected tothe tank I3 through the medium of a short pipe |88. Thus excess pressureis returned to the storage tank.

For preventing excess suction breaking the Aparts, as best shown inFigure 13, an inwardly 65 opening check valve |8I is mounted in thepressure chamber 65 of the casing I9- to admit at-4 'mospheric pressureto the chamber, it being Vunderstood that the storage tank I3 willbeequipped with suitable safety valves to regulate the degree of pressuretherein,

For adapting the jack to conform to inequalities in the ground andpermit the jack to always assume vertical position when in use, a. foot|82,

in the nature of a disc of rubber or other nonslipping material is'provided with a metal top plate |83 and the disc and plate are providedwith a seat |84 to receive a ball |85 carried by a pin |86 whichisthreaded into the bottom section 53 of the jack, as best shown in Figure4. The foot may tilt on the ball to conform to inequalities in theground while the jack remains vertical.

By referring now to Figure 13 it will be seen that the pressure cylinderI8, beyond the piston, communicates with th'e chamber 65 in the casingI9 through the medium of a passage |81. The passage is controlled by aspring pressed ball check valve |88 which opensputward, that is, awayfrom the axis of the cylinder. The pressure medium pipe I6 whichcommunicates with this cylinder is provided with a ball check valve I 89which opens toward the piston, Thus during one stroke of the piston theiiuid pressure medium will be drawn into the cylinder and during theopposite stroke of the piston will be ejected from the piston throughthe passage |81.

The suction cylinder I1 is provided with a passage II8 whichcommunicates with the chamber 65 in the casing I9 and is controlled by aball y check valve III which opens toward the axis of the cylinder. Theuid pressure medium pipe I5 of this cylinder is provided with a ballcheck valve |I2 which opens outwardly from the piston 38. Thus duringone stroke of the piston fluid pres-v sure medium will be drawn from thechamber 65 through the passage i I8 and expelled through the pipe I5into the storage tank I3.

' In order thatthe pressure pump and the suction pump will be activealternately'to respectively extend and retract a selected jack, or allof the jacks, a disc valve II3, best shown in Figures 13 and 14, isrotatably mounted on a. stem II4,

n which is threaded into the partition 39. The

valve'I is provided With one port I I5, adapted to be broughtselectively into registration with either the pressure passage, |81 orthe suction passage II8. The valve is provided with an integral pinionI|6 which meshes with a segmental shaped rack II 1. The rack is pivotedas shown at |I8 upon a bracket I|9 which extends from the wall of thecylinder and a forked shipper lever |28 is formed integral with the rackat the pivot thereof for moving the rack to selectively bring the port|I5 into registration with either the pressure passage |81, or thesuction passage II8, according to which direction the segment rack ismoved past neutral.

For actuating the segment rack the forked shipper is provided with lugs2|, best shown in Figure 14, which engage in the groove of a groovedcollar |22 which is xed to a shaft |23.

The shaft extends in alignment with the drive shaft 22 and is slidablymounted in a bearing |24 carried by the partition 39. The shaft isprovided in the end with aseeken which receives a ball |25 formed on theend of the drive shaft 22. Thus the drive shaft can idle Withoutinterfering with the shaft |23,l By pulling the shaft |23 outwardly theshipper lever |28 is moved to dispose the port |I5 of the valve ||3 inregistration with the' pressure passage |81 so that ihe fluid pressuremedium may be pumped into .a selected jacIk or all of the jacks. At thesame time' the driving gear 44 isv meshed with the eccentric gear 46 ofthe pressure piston to actuate the pressure piston. .C .l

Conversely, by pushing the shaft |23 inwardly the gear 44 is meshed withthe eccentricgear 45 of the suction piston while at the same time theshipper leverv28 turns the valve II3 to bring passage IIO so that thenuid pressure medium iswithdrawn from the jack to move the jack toreleased position.

When the shaft 22 is in a neutral position of its limit of movement ineither direction, the driving gear 44 will be in neutral position andheld thereby by the springs 50 land 5I so that neither'piston will beactive and the valve will be in the position shown in Figure 14,v withthe port II5 out of registration with the suction and pressurepassages.l

For selecting the jack to be operated, a selector disc valve |26, bestshown in Flg'uresil3, and 16, is splined on the shaft |23 as shown at|21 so that the shaft may move endwise therei through while the valve isheld against endwise movement through the medium of a flangeA |28 whichis confined between the rear head 24 of the casing I9 and a shoulder |29formed on t l the end of the casing Wall. The valve is provided with asingle port adapted to be brought into registration selectively withports |3| which are formed in an arcuate series in the rear head 24 ofthe casing and communicate with respective fuel medium'pipes 64 of thefour jacks., The

.valve |26 may be manually set to bring the port |30 into registrationwith the port |3| corresponding to the right rear jack, or to the righte ure 18.

To connect all of the jacks with the fluid medium chamber 65 in thecasing an arcuate slot |32 is formed in the valve |26 diametricallyopposite the port |30 and concentric with the axis of the valve. Thevalve may be turned to bring this slot in'to registration with all ofthe ports |3| in which position of the valve all of the jacks may bevlowered to the vertical to raise the entire vehicle, or may be swung tothe horizontal to lower the vehicle to the ground.

For actuatingthe lselector disc Valve |26 a flexible shaft |33 isconnected to the shaft |23 and extends through a tube |34 which issuitably secured in any preferred manner to the vehicle instrument board|35. The shaft terminates in a knob |36 which displays a pointer |31,best shown in Figure 18. A removable safety cap |38 houses the knob.

The tube |34 is provided with longitudinal radially disposed slots |39,best shown in Figures 1'7 and. 19. The centermostportions of these slotscommunicate with an annular recess or groove |40 in which is lodged alug |4| carried by the shaft |33. When it is desired to operate the jackthe knob |36' may be turned until the lug registers with a selected slot|39, designated by corresponding legends |42 formed on.a dial |43concentric with the shaft |33, and with which the pointer I3'I'cooperates. This rotation of the shaft |33 sets the selector valve |26to establish communication between the chamber 65 in the casing I9 and aselected port |30, corresponding to the jack to be operated. Thereuponthe knob |36 is pushed inwardly to pump fluid medium into the selectedjack and may be pulled outwardly to withdraw the fluid medium from thejack. The knob is always finally manipulated to lodge the lug |4| in thegroove |40 and aalsavaa this moi/ement actuates the shaft las to returnthe selector valve |26 to neutral position,

A suitable pressure gauge |44 is mounted on the instrument board |35 andis connectedy to the pressure chamber 65 of the casing I9 through themedium of a pipe |45.

Since the operation of the device has been described as the descriptionof the parts progressed it is thought that the invention winhe fullyswung to vertical operative -positionbelow thechassis, a fluid pressurepassage in the upper section of each jack, a latch means carried by thechassis and engageable with the upper section of a respective jack tohold the. jack in horizontal inoperative position, valve operated meansin said passage lfor moving said latch zof means to released position,valve operated means l in said passage connected to one of said gudgeonsto positively rotate the jack to vertical operative position afterrelease of the latch means. .there being ports in the sectionspermitting the fluid pressure medium to equalize throughout the sectionsto hold the jack in-extended position after" actuation of the jackrotating means, and bypasses in the sections permitting release ofexcess fluid` pressure, vwithdrawal of the fluid presoperation of saidjack rotating means to return the jack from the vertical to thehorizontal released position.

. 2. The combination with a motor vehicle chassis, of jacks formed loftelesco ically assembled sections, a support for each ack carried by thechassis, gudgeons extending from. the upper section of each jackjournaled in said support to permit the jack to be swung to horizontalinoperative position against the chassis and to be swung to verticaloperative position so as to extend below'the chassis, a duid pressurepassage in the upper section of each jack, a latch means carried by thechassis and engageable with the upper .section of a respective jack4 tohold the jack in horizontal inoperative position, valve operated meansin said passage for moving said latch means to released' position, aplunger in` spring pressed latching means carried by theA upper sectionof each jack engageable with the support when the jack reaches verticalposition to positively hold th'e jack against dislodgement from verticalposition.

LESTER L. CAMPBELL.

, Y :i5 sure medium from the sections reversing the

